BIOTIC ASSOCIATIONS OF COCKROACHES — ROTH & WILLIS 3I 



few species are found in water-filled bromeliads. The behavior of the 

 known amphibious species of cockroaches in relation to their habitats 

 is discussed below. 



AMPHIBIOUS COCKROACHES 



Audreia bromeliadarum 



Pananta. — These insects when disturbed would dive into the water 

 that had collected in the base of the bromeliad ; they would disappear 

 beneath the surface and remain submerged for some considerable 

 time (Caudell, 19 14). 



Dryadoblatta scotti 

 Trinidad. — This species was taken from the leaf bases of Tillandsia 

 sp. at 3,100 feet; water had collected between the leaves and the 

 insect was presumed to be more or less amphibious (Scott, 191 2). 

 Subaquatic in the bromeliad Glomeropitcairnia erectiflora: "This 

 large and handsome species [D. scotti] is very common in the larger, 

 waterfilled, epiphytic bromeliads of the rain forest. Within these 

 plants it is usually to be found, often in considerable numbers, just 

 above the surface of the water or partly immersed in it. The cock- 

 roaches will descend rapidly into the water when alarmed and prob- 

 ably obtain their nourishment from the accumulated organic matter 

 in the water. Floating material is probably taken and it seems less 

 likely that they feed below the surface. They appear to be ovovivip- 

 arous." (Princis and Kevan, 1955.) 



Epilampra abdomen-nigrum 



Puerto Rico. — Abundant in wet "malojillo" meadows. The 

 nymphs swim easily and remain under water for long periods, as do 

 the adults (Sein, 1923; Wolcott, 1950). 



Panatna. — A swimming nymph, captured in a dipper with mosquito 

 larvae in a lagoon of the Rio Chilibre, was kept under observations in 

 an aquarium. If disturbed, the insect dived into the water from float- 

 ing vegetation and swam rapidly below the surface for a minute or 

 two. Finally becoming quiescent, the cockroach would then cling to 

 submerged roots; twice it remained still for 15 minutes before climb- 

 ing to the surface, where it remained for five or more minutes before 

 emerging completely (Crowell, 1946). 



Epilampra annandalei 



Lozver Burma. — One male and three nymphs were collected in the 

 Dawna Hills by Annandale who made the following observations: 

 "The wingless specimens were under stones in a jungle stream and 



